, 1887-07-14
The Railway Commission mt
Denver.
The Body Looking into Union
Pacific Affairs.
Testimony Of Several Witnesses
Taken.

DENVER, July 1.-THE Pacific rail-
way investigating commission, con-
sisting of ex-Gov. Robt. h. Pattison,
of Pennsylvania, r.. Ellery Anderson,
of New York, and David A. Littler, Of
Illinois, arrived in this city
this morning. Jno. Norris, OF Phila-
delphia, accompanies the commission
as statistician, and Chas. =. Young, Of
New York, as secretary. The commits
sion held q session this afternoon in II
parlor of the Windsor hotel. Among
the witnesses examined were ex-United
States Senator M. =. Hill, of Colorado !;
Jno. Atkins, president of the Rocky
Mountain News company; j. M. Bur-
nell, secretary of the same company;
X. M. Cooper, general manager of the
Denver Republican; Leonard Il.
Smith, builder Of the Kansas Central,
and Sylvester II. Smith, now general
manager OF the Denver & Rio Grande
railroad, but formerly receiver of the
Kansas Pacific, and later, general
superintendent of the Union Pacific.
In reply to inquiries by
Gov. Pattison, ex-senator Hill
testified that the Union Pacific freight
rates had always been high and the
| building of competing roads had not
decreased freight rates, though for the
last year or two the rates had not been
so high as formerly. He had been
somewhat surprised when he read in
the newspapers the published testi-
mony OF this commission taken at
Omaha showing the rebates allowed
the Omaha Smelling company. Wit
ness said his company, the Boston IL
Colorado smelling company, had not
received any special rates or rebates
though it had received from the rail
road company IL refund OF several
items of overcharge. He thought
Denver would have had 10000 more
population had it not been for dis
elimination against it by the Union
Pacific. The witness had an interest
in Denver newspaper which paid $50
ton freight on paper shipped from
Chicago. A newspaper in San Fran
cisco that used the same paper only
! paid $40 ton freight from
Chicago. Commissioner Anderson
| inquired whether that discrimination
has existed since the passage of the
interstate commerce law. Witness
replied that it still continued, as the
4th clause of the law had been sus-
| pended by the interstate commission
He thought if in the investigation the
commission could get at one-tenth OF
the truth regarding discrimination it
would be doing we'll. Commissioner
Littler asked how witness explained
an item of $67 900 which appeared on
the Union Pacific books as rebates to
the Boston & Colorado Smelling COM
pany. Witness said the transaction
was one not affecting that company,
but mining company in Montana
which had contract with the Union
Pacific to carry lot of low grade ore
at S12 so ton, instead of at the regu-
lar rate of $22. The Boston e Colo
RADIO company bought the ore after the
making of that contract, ano
bought it on condition
that the freight would bC
$3.50 ton. The benefit of the re
bate Injured really to the Montan;
company and not to the Boston anc
Colorado company, The ore coulC
not have been sold by the Montan;
company but for the low freight rate
Governor Pattison inquired OF Sen
ator Hill what part the Union Pacific
railroad company had taken in infiu
encing politics or legislation. Th
sentor said it had taken II very activ
part but he was not here to speak of
matter of which he had no actual pei
sonal knowledge. Pressed to Civ
names of parties he said that on
Archie Williams, of Kansas, had beel
in attendance good deal ON the legis
lature of Colorado and if not lobbyin
for the railroads he (witness) did nc
know what Williams had been ther
for. The senator did not car
to make any specific charge
against people, but would give som
names to the commission of partie
who could tell them something if the
would. He gave an illustration I
show how much interest railroa
company could take in an election, b
citing an incident in connection wit
the last senatorial election. A men
Der OF the Colorado legislature, viii
the election was pending, was oblige
to 60 to Nebraska on urgent bushes
: and the Union Pacific, Senator Hi
: : said, furnished that member with
: special train for the purpose. Th'
must have been done at large expen
by the company, but the Union Pacif
:. company, as Senator Hill said he III
derstood, was no woIse than other cor
:; panies in regard to political interfe
u ence. All the Companies had "chi
ped in" by contributing money to
feet that election. He had at lea
been so informed, but it would be d
10 ficult to fasten thing OF tin
n sort on anybody in particuli
If The commissioner thought I'll
20 charge serious one. Commission
" Littler asked whether the witnt
g meant TO say that there was a COM
or nation OF railroads in Colorado to
% ! N,n,>.a no1;t;rnI ar louislativp acti